DrakeUniversity

MastersofScienceinEducation
ClinicalLearningPlan

ScottBelger
StudentID:000191087
Cohort:#13
10/08/2014

ProfessionalPlatform:

ThefollowingpaperprovidesanIndividualLearningPlanandEducationPlatformthatwasdevelopedfromnotonlymypersonalvision,beliefs,and
experiencesbutalsobyreflectingupontheinformationIobtainedfromthePeopleSkillsinventory.Thegoalsoutlinedinthispaperwillbeusedto
guidemyactionsasIcompletetheeducationalleadershipprogram.

Twoyeargoal

Intwoyears,Iseemyselfasaneducationalleaderwhopossessesadeeperunderstandingofleadership,hasanenhancedknowledgeofwhat
leadershiplookslike,andtheskillsnecessarytobequalifiedforanactivitiesdirectorpositioninahighachievingschooldistrict.IntwoyearsIwill

havetheconfidencetoserveinanadministrativeroleandIwillhaveastrongerabilitytoinfluencestudentsinapositiveway.IntwoyearsIsee
myselfasaneducationalleaderreadyandpreparedtostartanewchapterinmycareer.

FiveYearGoal
Infiveyears,Iseemyselfasanoutstandingactivitiesdirectorinahighachievingschooldistrict.Iseemyselfasaqualifiedandproductive
memberofagreatteamofleaderswithaclearvisionofwhereourprogramisheaded.
Strengths
Mymostsignificantstrengthsasaneducationalleaderaremyabilitytoformandmaintainrelationshipsandtomotivateagroupofstudentsto
maximizetheirpotential.Myenthusiasm,motivation,andabilitytoseethebigpicturewillmakemeavaluableleaderinaschooldistrictwhereI
willbeneededtomakepositivechangestobenefitstudents.Asacontrollerpersuader,Itendtobeperceivedasindependentandsomewhatforceful
inworkingwithpeopletoaccomplishchange.
Weaknesses
Ibelievemybiggestweaknessrightnowismylackofadministrativeexperience.Ipossessmanyofthenecessaryskillstosuccessfully
performinanadministrativerolehowever,Ilackthefieldexperiencenecessarytobeaneffectiveleaderinahighachievingschooldistrict.AsI

developasaneducationalleader,Icouldimprovemyflexibilitybytakingthetimetoexplainthingsmoreclearlyanddelegatingmoreefficiently.In
termsofmakingbigdecisions,IwillbenefitfrombeingmorepatientwiththosewhodonotactasquicklyasIdo.

AsaGraduateStudent
Asagraduatestudent,Iwillestablishmyeducationalplatform,developasoundsetofcorevalues,andtakeactionontheopportunitiesI
receiveasanactivememberofcohort#13.IwilldemonstrateahighlevelofgritasIgrowasaneducationalleader.Grittypeopleacknowledge
theirpastandlearnfromtheirmistakes.Thepastishistory,thefutureisamystery,andthepresentisagiftisaphrasethathasresonatedwithme
andwillserveasadrivingforceasIpursueopportunitiesineducationalleadership.Asagraduatestudent,Iwillalsogainvaluableexperiencefrom
awellrespectedmentorasIlearnfromtheirmistakesandsuccessestomakemyselfbetter.Asagraduatestudent,Iwillbeaspongeandseekevery
opportunitytolearnfromthebestinthefieldofeducation.
BigIdea#1
Ibelievetheroleofaschoolleadertakesmanyformswhenitcomestobeingatransformationalleader.Onethingaschoolleadermustbe
abletodoistosetthedirectionofwherethebuildingisgoingandwheretheyareheaded.Ithinkthestudentswillhaveabiggerbuyiniftheleader
hasaclearvision.AccordingtoBrianCain,amentorofmine,inhisbookTheLeadershipClock,hedescribedthefourvisionlevelsofpeople:
4

1. Somepeopleneverseeit.Theyarewanderers.
2. Somepeopleseeitbutneverpursueitontheirown.Theyarefollowers.
3. Somepeopleseeitandpursueit.Theyareachievers.
4. Somepeopleseeit,pursueit,andhelpothersseeitandpursueit.Theyareleaders.
AgreatexampleofsomebodywithgreatvisionisWaltDisney.WaltpassedawaybeforeDisneylandactuallyopenedsotheyaskedMrs.
Disneytospeakattheopeningceremonies.ManypeoplecommentedtoMrs.DisneythattheywishedWaltcouldhaveseenthis.Mrs.Disney
replied,HedidimplyingthatWaltDisneyhadaclearvisionofwhatDisneylandwasgoingtolooklikeandcouldseeitlongbeforeitofficially
opened.
Aneffectiveschoolleadermusthavethreethings:(1.)Aclearvisionthatiscommunicatedtoall.(2.)Aclearvisionthatissharedbyall.
(3.)Aclearvisionthatisunderstoodbyall.Inorderforaschooltosucceed,thesethreethingsmusthappen.Mostpeoplewanttofeeltheyare
workingtowardssomething,notjustdoingtasks.Startingwiththeendinmindandhavingagoodreasonwhyaretwostepsaleadercantaketo
ensureasenseofpurpose.
BigIdea#2
Ithinkschoolcultureandclimateplayanimportantroleintheoveralleffectivenessofaschool.Toleadasuccessfulschool,theleadermust
managetheenergyoftheteam,includingtheirownlevelofpositiveenergy.Agreatschoolleadermusthavetheabilitytocontagiouslyspread
5

positiveenergy.Personally,Ithinkenergyisonethingthatseparatesgoodleadersfromgreatleaders.MahatmaGandhihadagreatquote
concerningpositiveenergy:

Keepyourthoughtspositivebecauseyourthoughtsbecomeyourwords.

Keepyourwordspositivebecauseyourwordsbecomeyourbehavior.
Keepyourbehaviorpositivebecauseyourbehaviorbecomesyourhabits.
Keepyourhabitspositivebecauseyourhabitsbecomeyourvalues.
Keepyourvaluespositivebecauseyourvaluesbecomeyourdestiny.
Ibelieveconveyingpositiveenergyasaleaderismoreimportantthanhowmuchaleaderknows,howmanysuccessesorfailuresaleaderhas

had,andmostimportantlywhataleadersays.PositiveenergywontmakeEVERYTHINGbetterrightaway,butpositiveenergywillmake
EVERYTHINGbetterthannegativeenergywill.
Creatingalearningconduciveenvironmentmusthavethreeelements,asdescribedbySandraLeeGuptoninherbookTheInstructional
LeadershipToolbox.(1.)Awarmclimatemostpeoplenoticetheoutsideofaschoolbuildingfirstandbasetheirimpressiononwhattheysee.I
stronglybelievethatitsimportantforaschooltotakeprideintheconditionoftheschoolbuilding,includingawellmaintainedlawnandgrounds.
(2.)Theschoolmustbeintellectuallyinvitingmeaningaschoolshouldhavesignsofsuccessadvertisingtheclimatetheystrivefor.Signsof
successmayinclude:thedistrictcorevalues,missionstatements,inspirationalquotes,andothermethodsofcreatingtheculturetheschool/program
6

seeks.(3.)Agoodpsychologicalclimatemeaningtheclimateshouldreflectastudentcenteredenvironment.Hallways,lockers,andclassrooms
shouldreflectthepositivethingsthestudentsaredoingbyhangingposters,awards,andothersignsofstudentaccomplishments.
Cultureshapescharacter.Socreateanintenseandintentionalcultureoursharedway

CharacterCountsinIowa

BigIdea#3
Ibelieveahealthyteacherstudentrelationshipwillhelpfosterandfacilitateastudentsengagementinlearningachallengingcurriculum.
Wellrespectedleadersandteachersunderstandthateachstudentisdifferentandthateachstudentlearnsinadifferentmanner.Ithinkmanytimes
teachersandleadersuseacookiecutterapproachanddontunderstandwhytheydontgettheresultstheyarestrivingfor.Thesamelearningstyles
andstrategiesateacherusesforonestudentmayormaynotworkforthenextstudent.Beingagoodteacherinvolvesagoodunderstandingoftheir
emotionsandtheemotionsofthestudentsthatsurroundthem.Ibelieveateachersemotionalintelligence,theirabilitytosee,manage,andjudgethe
emotionsofthepeoplearoundthemhaveagreatdealtodowiththeireffectivenessasaneducationalleader.Ibelievethestudentswillbuyinbetter
toateacherwhoshowstheycarefortheindividual.

Ithinkanotherimportantingredientofaqualityteacherstudentrelationship,istheteachersabilitytoraiseexpectationsandimprovestudent
performance.Thisrequiresateachertobemorewillingthantheaverageteachertoprepareanddeliverqualityinstructiontothestudents.According
toBrianCaininhisbookentitled,TheLeadershipClock,agreatleaderdoesthreethings:(1.)Awareness:Developanawarenessofwhatneedsto
change.(2.)Strategy:Developastrategyforthatchange.(3.)Action:Implementthestrategywithanaccountabilitypartnerandassessyourselfon
aregularbasissothedesiredperformancecanoccur.Therearemanyessentialpiecestohavingaqualityteacherstudentrelationshipandeachpiece
willhelpthestudentsintheclassroomsucceedandbecomemoreproductive.

Whatreallycountsinpubliceducationisthatstudentssucceedandbecomethinking,knowledgeable,andproductivecitizens,regardlessofwhich
pathinlifetheychoose.
AmyCiliberto
Inconclusion,byfollowingandreflectingonthegoalsoutlinedinthispaperandobtainingadditionalknowledgeandexperiencesthatwill
comefromparticipatinginthisprogram,Iwillhavetheskillsnecessarytobecomeatransformationalleader.Theseskillswillprovidemewiththe
leadershipabilitytofosterapositiveeducationalculture,climateandhealthyteacherstudentrelationshipthatwillimproveoverallacademic
performance.


KeyStandardswhereIneedtowork:

1.Aschooladministratorisaneducationalleaderwhopromotesthesuccessofallstudentsbyfacilitatingthedevelopment,articulation,
implementationandstewardshipofavisionoflearningthatissharedandsupportedbytheschoolcommunity.

2.Aschooladministratorisaneducationalleaderwhopromotesthesuccessofallstudentsbyadvocating,nurturingandsustainingaschool
cultureandinstructionalprogramconducivetostudentlearningandstaffprofessionaldevelopment.

3.Aschooladministratorisaneducationalleaderwhopromotesthesuccessofallstudentsbyensuringmanagementoftheorganization,
operations,andresourcesforasafe,efficient,andeffectivelearningenvironment.

4.

Aschooladministratorisaneducationalleaderwhopromotesthesuccessofallstudentsbycollaboratingwithfamiliesandcommunity
members,respondingtodiversecommunityinterestsandneedsandmobilizingcommunityresources.

KeyProgramOutcomeswhereIneedtowork:

1. Studentswilldemonstratetheyunderstandthatthesuccessofalllearnersisacoreresponsibilityforschoolleaders.
2. Studentswilldemonstratetheyunderstandthesocialandpedagogicalimplicationsofdiversityandindividualdifferences.
3. Studentswilldemonstratetheyunderstandthattheyareabletoworkeffectivelywithadultsandstudentstoplanforschoolreform.
4. Studentswilldemonstratetheyunderstandthattheycananalyzeaproblemorissuefrommultipleperspectives:e.g.philosophical,
political,socioeconomic,historical,theoretical,economic,andlegal.
7. Studentswilldemonstratethattheyhaveafoundationalknowledgebasefororganizingandmanagingtheirschools.

MyGoalsfortheclinical:
1. Iwouldliketobecomeskilledandknowledgeableonthetopicofimprovingacademicachievementforallstudents.
2. Iwouldliketobecomeskilledandknowledgeableonthetopicofprofessionaldevelopment.
3. Iwouldliketobecomeskilledandknowledgeableintheareaofcompliance,mandates,andschool/districtpolicies.
4. Iwouldliketobecomeskilledandknowledgeableintheareaofschoolclimateandculture.
9

Proposedplanforaccomplishingthegoal(s):

1. Iwilllearnandbegintoresearch/incorporatebestpracticeintermsofteacherimprovement.
2. Iwillworkonseekingopportunitiestolearnhowtorecruit,hire/retain,andevaluatequalityteachersandcoaches.
3. Iwillseekopportunitiestobetterunderstandpolicies,management,organization,andoveralloperationsofaschool.
4. Iwillseekopportunitiestobetterunderstandandhelpfacilitateastudentcenteredcultureandclimate.

10